Avaline couldn't rest the rest of the day. Even as Lottie brought her soup and bread, she barely touched them. Instead, Avaline sat in front of her desk feeling the tule between her fingers. How much was Dr. Howard's visit going to cost? A throbbing pain started behind one of her eyes, then crept up to her temple.
Wincing, Avaline rubbed her forehead. The ache forced her to bed, giving up on trying to figure out what she needed to do for Miss Margaret. Keeping one eye closed, she slurped the rest of the cold soup and nibbled on the bread. There was something she was forgetting, but for the life of her, she couldn't think.
After her meal, Avaline lay on her bed. She pressed her pillow against her face as the pressure in her eye mounted. Faintly, she heard the door to her chambers open, but her mind dissolved into nothingness.
***
Pitch darkness awaited Avaline when she woke. The throbbing in her eye was gone. She smacked her lips, her mouth sour. Water. Where was it? Stumbling around, Avaline found the jug of water on one of the bedside tables. After emptying two glasses, she finally felt refreshed.
A small tap against the glass window stiffened her back. Wide-eyed Avaline turned to the sound. Tap. Tap. Tap. It was an unusual type of tapping, too. Like something hitting the window. Avaline placed the glass cup down and picked up a candlestick.
Her steps were slow and cautious as she walked toward the window. The noise became louder as she approached. What could it be at this hour? A cat? A bird? Taking a deep breath, Avaline grabbed the curtain and pulled it open. Nothing stirred behind the window. Had she imagined it?
Sighing, her grip loosened on the candlestick. A small blob of darkness darted across the window. Avaline yelped and took a step back. That was not a cat. It was much smaller. It wasn't a person either.
Swallowing thickly, she approached the window once more. Like before, nothing moved beyond it. Did something need help? Was it hurt?
"This is absurd," I whispered. "I can't believe I'm doing this."
Against her better judgment, Avaline opened the window. As soon as she did, a creature flew into the room. Shrieking, Avaline cowered on the floor, protecting her head with her arms. Heavy footsteps pounded down the hallway. Moments later, Vivian burst into the room.
"What's wrong?" she asked. "I heard screaming."
Shaking, Avaline looked at her sister. "I - I don't know. Something flew inside. I think it was a huge rat."
"Do you hear yourself? A rat with wings?"
"I saw it!"
Vivian checked through the curtains. Her candle flame flickered at her quickness. When she found nothing, Vivian turned to Avaline.
"There's nothing here. Are you sure you saw something?"
Avaline lowered her arms. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. Now, get up from the floor."
With her face warming, Avaline stood.
Vivian walked to the window and closed it. "Why are you opening your window so late at night?"
"I thought I heard something."
"So, you decided to open it? Did it ever occur to you that it could be dangerous?"
Avaline scratched her nose. "I was curious."
"Avaline, where's your brain gone?" Vivian sighed. "You can't be so reckless these days."
Avaline placed the candlestick down on the desk. "I thought something was hurt. Like a cat."
Vivian shook her head. "Charles is on his way with father's weapon."
"I'm sorry."
"I'll talk to him." She sighed. "Go to bed."
On her way out, she closed the door.
Alone now, Avaline looked around the room. Had she imagined it? Maybe she needed more sleep. It had been a difficult day. Avaline looked down at the candlestick. Weak moonlight poured into the room now that the curtain had been drawn. Out of the corner of her eye, something moved.
Freezing, Avaline grabbed the candlestick once more. That's when she heard it: chirping sounds. But it didn't make sense for a bird to fly at night. Then a black furry creature crawled out from underneath the bed. It stared at her with large eyes.
Swallowing thickly, she released the candlestick and approached it. Kneeling, Avaline scooped it up in her hands. The creature fit perfectly in her hands. At a closer look, it was a bat with a silver bow around its neck and a note tied to its foot.
"Where did you come from?" she asked.
Avaline plucked the note from its foot and sat on her bed. The note had no seal of any kind. Pressing her lips together, she unfurled the paper.
[Ava, can I call you Ava?]
Avaline stared at the greeting. The writing was sparse and jagged. She glanced at the bat then at the note. Delilah. It had to be from her. She kept reading.
[Thank you for fixing, Sir Arnie.
Light blessings be with you, DELILAH.]
Avaline's shoulders shook as she tried not to laugh. The tension eased out of her body. Avaline pressed her lips together as her vision blurred. She dabbed her eyes with the back of her hand. Enough crying. She had cried plenty during the day.
More tapping from the window. Avaline placed the bat on her bedside table and went to investigate. When she opened the window, another bat flew in. This one was a lot larger, but not by much. It had a red ribbon around its neck. A note was also tied to its leg. One after another. Why am I so popular now?
The note was from Lord Nightingale. She immediately recognized his neat handwriting.
[Lady Stark], it began.
[I hope this message finds you well. Forgive me for taking the liberty of reaching out to you. It seems my sister also took the liberty of sending you a message.]
Avaline smiled.
[I must apologize if she caused you any offense.]
It was clear to her that Lord Nightingale cherished his sister.
[If I may be so bold, it would mean a lot to Delilah if you were to correspond with her. Belle, the one with the red bow, will be the swifter choice.]
"Belle?" Avaline read aloud.
The bat squeaked.
[For any further correspondence, please feel free to use her.
May Sol shine brightly upon you,
Lord Sebastian Nightingale]
"Sebastian," she said. "So, that's his name."
Smiling, Avaline placed Belle beside the other bat and returned to her desk. She dug around before finding ink and paper. That night, she wrote two letters, once for each bat. The first bat with the silver bow would take her letter to Delilah. It was short and asked if Avaline could write to Delilah more. With the second later, Avaline took more care to write.
[Lord Nightingale,
I would be honored to start corresponding with Delilah. I must confess I wasn't prepared for this method of communication. Though I do find it enjoyable. It'll definitely be quicker to contact each other this way.]
A cloud drifted in front of the moon, bathing the room in shade. Was this really alright? Lord Nightingale was her employer. She shook her head. Who would know about her late-night letters? Besides, who was to say they would continue to correspond? It was better not to overthink it.
As the moonlight returned, Avaline continued her letter.
[I look forward to our cooperation.
May Luna shine upon you,
Avaline Stark]
She neatly rolled the messages and attached them to each bat. The first one flew away quickly. Belle was more patient. With her note attached, the bat flew away. Avaline stood by the window, watching the two of them disappear into the night.